retirement
The disadvantages of claiming at 62
You can start receiving your Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. However, you are entitled to full benefits only when you reach your full retirement age. There are advantages and disadvantages to taking your benefits before your…
Stop pretending that nothing is happening to Social Security
How important is Social Security to the American seniors? According to a recent survey from The Senior Citizens League, “67 percent of seniors said they rely on Social Security for more than half their income.” Among Social Security beneficiaries age…
Ask Rusty – Social Security Questions Asked Over Coffee
Dear Rusty: My coffee conversations with a group of friends have resulted in several questions about Social Security: Dear Curious: Thank you for your readership, and I’ll be happy to tackle your “over coffee” questions about Social Security: This article…
Looking Ahead to Your Social Security Benefit
Whether you’re just looking at averages or have seen your forecasted benefit amount at full retirement age, you may have been surprised at the level of payment you’ll receive. The fact that Social Security is only intended, on average, to…
Grads: Social Security Will be There for You, But It Won’t Be Enough
Young folks stepping into a career aren’t likely to pay much attention to the other end of the spectrum…their retirement years. That’s a given, and besides, Social Security will be there when it’s needed, despite the hoopla about insolvency, benefit…
Social Security Uncertainty Weighing on the Minds of Seniors
Two recent media posts have cited a growing level of concern among Americans in retirement or approaching Social Security eligibility. First, a post by Fox13 Salt Lake City’s Kelly Chapman (click here) suggests that “policy changes and uncertainty about the…
Social Security’s Average Monthly Benefit Hits a New Milestone
The month of May is expected to see the average monthly benefit for retired workers reach the $2,000 level for the first time in history. For a quick comparison, the average benefit at the same point in 2015 was $1,363,…
Carrying Debt Into Retirement…a “Generational Time Bomb”
Noted entrepreneur Kevin O’Leary offers sobering thoughts on a trend emerging in the retirement world: seniors moving into that life phase with a heavy debt load. In a recent post on thestreet.com, O’Leary observes: “Nearly two-thirds of families led by…
The “Big, Beautiful Tax Bill” still needs some attention!
The House Ways & Means Committee has published it’s “one big beautiful bill” to provide government spending in the next fiscal year. And that bill does, in fact, have some very positive aspects, most notably extending the expiring 2017 tax…
About Retiring from a Long Working Career
I remember it well – my first day of retirement from over 40 years working in my chosen professional career. It was a day of both trepidation, but excitement looking forward to living my days according to my own rules,…